Irritant gas bomb discharge means



April 7, 1942. F. sABlNl IRRITANT GAS BOMB DISCHA RGE MEANS Filed Oct. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Apr-ii 7', 1942,

F. sABlNl IRRITANT GAS BOMB DISCHARGE MEANS Filed Oct. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17621261126 Y' A y A@ Patente Apr. 7, 1.942 l van IRRITANT GAS BOMB DISCHARGE DIEANS Frederick Sabini, Salem, N. I. Application October 8, 1940, Serial No. 366,295

5 Claims.

This invention relates to hold-up and theft prevention systemssuitable for installation in banks, commercial and other establishments for the protection of tellers cages, cashier booths or other locations Which are subject to the risk of hold-up and theft; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to protective means operable to discharge an irritant or incapacitating gas. such e. g. as tear gas, into the air in the vicinity of the area desired to be protected.

This invention has for an object to provide 4 novel means for storing adjacent to the area desired to be protected, subject to discharge, a plurality of frangible gas containers or bombs; said means being adapted, when put in operation, to automatically and successively discharge said gas containers or bombs in such manner that the same will be shattered so as to liberate the gas content thereof for rapid dispersion 'through the atmosphere adjacent to the protected area.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following .detailed description ofthe same.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an exterior or front elevational view of a tellers cage and window showing one form of the novel Ygas bomb storing and discharge f means according to this invention as operatively installed in the vicinity thereof; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one form of the gas bomb storing and discharge means, said View being taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modied form of the novel gas bomb storing and discharge means, showing means for mechanically shattering a bomb at the moment of discharge thereof from the device, said View being taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 5; and Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view of the same, taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring rst to Figs. l to 3 inclusive, in

the form thereof therein shown, the gas bomb storing and discharge means comprises a suitably shaped casing lil, the interior of which is suitably subdivided, as by partitioning means il, to provide a housing vchamber I2 within which is rotatably mounted a carrier or drum i3, the hub Ui of which is aixed on a shaft I5 journaled in bearings IG and Il with which a wall of the casing ID and said partitioning means Il are respectively provided. Said carrier or drum I3 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed circumferentially spaced carrier pockets I8. Said pockets I8 open outwardly from the periphery of said carrier or drum I3. Said casing I0 is provided with a discharge passage or opening I9 into alignment with which the several carrier pockets I8 of the carrier or drum I3 are successively passed when the carrier or drum is rotated. Each carrier pocket I8 is adapted, to receive and hold subject to discharge therefrom a gas bomb B, which comprises a suitably shaped and closed hollow casingof frangible material, such e. g. as glass, the interior of which is charged with a content o irritant gas, suchv as tear gas.

Means for transmitting motion to the carrier or drum I3 is provided whereby the same is rotated so that the carrier pockets I8 are, at a desired predetermined speed, successively moved past the discharge passage or opening I9, thereby permitting the gas bombs B carried in the pockets to successively drop through the discharge passage or opening i9 and out of the casing I 0, to fall upon a surface beneath and exteriorly of the casing I0 so as to be broken by impactl therewith, and thus liberate their gas content into the surrounding atmosphere. The means for transmitting motion to the drum I D is subject to wide variation in form. Illustrative of one form of such means, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 oi the drawings, the same comprises an electric motor 20 as a source of power, said motor being suitably mounted within the casing behind the drum housing. Also mounted within the casing I9 behind the drum housing is a trans mission means of the speed reduction type. the same being supported between bearing plates 2l aixed to 'the casing walls. In the illustrative form thereof as shown, the same comprises a drive shaft 22 and a driven shaft 23 journaled in and between said bearing plates 2i. Aixed to the driven shaft 23 is a sprocket 2i which drives a chain 25 arranged to run over a driven sprocket 26 which is fixed on the drum shaft I5. Afxed to the drive sha-it 22 is a pulley cr the like 2l which is driven bv a belt or the like 28 from a drive pulley 2S xed on the motor armature shaft 30. Mounted in connection with the bearing plates 2| between the drive shaft 22 and driven shaft 23 is a reduction gear train 3|. including a worm gear 32 which is driven by a Worm 33 xed on the drive shaft 22- In use the bomb storing and discharging level. For example, as shown in Fig. l, if thearea to be protected is the vicinity of the window W of a bank tellers or cashiers cage or booth,

the casing Ill is aiiixed to the exterior face of the. wall or partition P thereof adjacent to the Iwindow W, and the motor 20 is connected in an y electrical control circuit C which preferably includes a concealed switch, such e. g. as a foot actuatable normally open switch-S located within the cage or booth so `as to be conveniently accessible to the occupant for operation when occasion requires. It will be obvious that in the event of attempted hold-up or theft theteller or cashier may close the switch S thus starting the motor 20. The Voperating motor will simultaneously transmit through the transmission mechanism motion to the drum I3 so that the latter will rotate at desired speed and successively liberate its content of bombsB. Each liberated bomb as it falls to the iioor, will be shattered by impact therewith, and will thus discharge its gas content into the surrounding atmosphere adjacent to the tellers or vcashiers window W, so as to quickly incapacitate the person or persons attempting the hold-up and theft.

It will be obvious that a number of the bomb storing and discharging devices/may be 'located at diierent points in the whole area desired to be protected and may be connected with either individual control circuits or a common control circuit or combined control and alarm circuit or circuits.

Any suitable means may be provided to give access to the carrier or drum I3 for reiillingthe same with bombs -B. For example, the drum housing may be provided with an opening or hatch 34 adjacent the top side of the drum through which bombs B may be dropped into the carrier pockets I8 as. the-*same are moved into lregistration therewith; and access may be gainedannular open passage is provided to intersect the drum and its carrier pocket sections.l Amxed to said casing I0, to rise through said intersecting passage from the far side oi' the discharge passage I9 (considering the direction ot rotation of the drum) is a breaker abutment strip or tongue 40, the same being inclined 'in opposition to the direction of rotation'of the drum. This breaker abutment strip or tongue 40, as thusdisposed above and across the discharge passage I9, and so as to lie in the path of movement of the bombs B-carried in the carrier pocket Asections 33, provides at the approach side of the discharge passage I9, a restricted passage 4I of less width than the diameter or a bomb B. As a consequence of this arrangement, as a bomb B is carried around by the drum and approaches the discharge passage I 9, the'bomb under impulsion by the drum will be squeezed between the boundaries of said passage 4I, whereby the exerted pressure will fracture the bomb as it is liberated through the discharge passage I9, and

consequently 'its gas content will be immediately could be made in the above described constructions,v and that other widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without vdeparting from the scope thereof as defined in to saidopening' or hatchv 34 through an open- .v ing in the front wall ofthe casing I9, which is normally closed by a removable cover plate, door or the like 35.

In Figs. '4" and 5 of the drawings, there isl shown va somewhat modiiied form of the rotary drum type 'of bomb storing and discharging means, wherein the drum may be made of' sheet metal, andin conjunction with which and the discharge passage I9 of the casing I9 is provided means whereby a bomb maybe mechanically' broken? or shattered at the moment of discharge thereof through the passage I9, rather than by subsequent impact with a surface to which it falls after discharge through said passage'. The device in this modified form admits ot'location thereof at low levels, and thus obviates necessityv of limiting location thereof to points sufliciently elevated to assure a distance of drop calculated to assure shattering of the bomb by impact ensuing upon a fall thereof. Inthis modified form of construction, the drum comprises a hollow hub 3S upon which is iixed a pair of laterally spaced side plates-31. Opposed --marginal portions are pressed to provide outwardly open carrier pocket sections 38 circumferentially spaced around the drum periphery. Mounted on a wall of the casing I0, above its discharge passage I9, is a journal member, 39 upon which the drum is -rotatably supported, so that, upon rotation, its

carrier pocket sections 39 will' be successivelyV moved past and into registration with the discharge passage I9. It will 4life-"observed that arf the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in theforegoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, -v

1. For a hold-up and theft prevention system or the like, a device for storing and discharging a plurality of frangible bombs containing an ir- ,y move into alignment therewith, and electric mo- 2tor driven transmission means within said casing for actuating said drum,va normally open electric. control circuit serving said motor including means remote from the .casing to close said cirv i cuit as occasion may require, and means adjacent to the discharge passage for shattering a bomb about to be released therethrough.

- 2. For a holdfup and theft prevention system or the like, a, device for storing and discharging irangible bombs containing an irritant gas, said device comprising a casing having a discharge Apassage through which bombs may be released and. dropped, a rotary drum having circumferen- 1 tially spaced .outwardly open radial pockets to4 carry said bombs, said drum being mounted within said casing so'that rotation thereof successively moves its pockets into alignment with said discharge passage whereby the bombs are successively released forA discharge therethrough, means to produce operative rotation of said drum, and means adjacent to the discharge passage for shattering a. bomb about to be released therethrough.

3. For a hold-up and theft prevention system or the like, a device for storing frangible bombs containing an irritant gas. said device having a discharge passage through which the bombs may be released, means to move the stored bombs successively to said discharge passage, and means adjacent to the discharge passage for shattering a bomb about to be released therethrough.

4. For a hold-up and theft prevention system. or the like, a device for storing and discharging trangible bombs containing an irritant gas. said device comprising a casingl having a discharge passage through which the bombs may be re- `leased. a rotary drum having circumferentially Y spaced outwardly open radial pockets to carry said bombs, said drum being mounted within said casing so that rotation thereof successively moves its pockets into alignment with said discharge passagea whereby the bombs are successively released for discharge therethrough, means to produce operative rotation of said drum. said drum having an annular passage intersecting lits bomb 25 carrying pockets, and a breaker means axed to said casing to incline over said discharge passage so as to enter the annular passage of said drum. whereby bombs carried into engagement therewith are subjected to shattering compression plurality of frangible bombs containing an ir ritant gas, said device comprising a casing, a rotary drum mounted within said casing, said drum having circumferentially spaced outwardly open radial pockets to carry said bombs. said casing having a Wall conforming at least to the underside peripheral portions of the drum and disposed to lie contiguous thereto,r said Wall having a discharge passage 'through which the bombs may drop from the drum pockets as the latter move into alignment therewith, electric motor driven transmission means within said casing for actuating said drum. a normally open electric control circuit serving said Vmotor including means remote from the casing to close said circuit as occasion may require, said drum having an annular passage intersecting its bomb carrying pockets, and a breaker means aixed to said casing to incline over said discharge passage so as to enter the annular passage of the drum, whereby bombs carried into engagement therewith are subjected to shattering compression substantially 'at the moment of their discharge through said discharge passage.

sAnINI. 

